Chelsea fights back to earn victory at Villa
BIRMINGHAM (Reuters) – Chelsea boosted its hopes of finishing in the Premier League top four as second-half goals from substitute Christian Pulisic and striker Olivier Giroud secured a 2-1 comeback win at relegation-threatened Aston Villa on Sunday.
The result left Chelsea fourth on 51 points from 30 games, five ahead of fifthplace Manchester United, while Villa’s hopes of avoiding the drop were dented as it stayed second-bottom on 26 points, one point adrift of the safety zone.
Defender Kortney Hause had fired the home side ahead against the run of play in the 43rd minute with his first Premier League goal, but American Pulisic equalized on the hour, five minutes after coming on, and Cezar Azpilicueta delivered another assist two minutes later, threading the ball to Giroud from a flowing move and the Frenchman’s deflected shot on the turn gave Orjan Nyland no chance.
Liverpool and Everton faced off in the Merseyside derby late Sunday night in a match that finished after press time.
In other action, record signing Joelinton scored his first Premier League goal since August as Newcastle United secured a convincing 3-0 win over 10-man Sheffield United on Sunday.
The Brazilian striker found the net from close range to round off a dominant display for Newcastle, which was playing its first game since the restart.
Sheffield United did not create many opportunities at St James’ Park and was reduced to 10 men early in the second half when defender John Egan collected his second yellow card.
Egan, who was cautioned for clashing with Joelinton over an offside decision in the first half, brought down the Brazilian striker to receive his marching orders from referee David Coote.
Newcastle seized control of the contest in the 55th minute when midfielder Matt Ritchie’s cross from the left wing found Allan Saint-Maximin, whose low shot found the net.
Ritchie doubled Newcastle’s lead in the 69th minute with a swerving shot from the edge of the box, before Joelinton recorded only his second league goal of the campaign.
The result means Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United, which played out a goalless draw against Aston Villa in its first match back, remains seventh in the standings and seven points behind fourth-place Chelsea.
Newcastle, on the other hand, moved up to 12th spot with 38 points to surely put any remaining relegation fears to rest.
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described as “unacceptable” the way his side conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion on
Saturday, the Gunners’ second defeat since the league’s restart.
Nicolas Pepe’s delightful free kick looked like giving Arsenal the points, but Lewis Dunk equalized for the hosts before Neal Maupay struck five minutes into stoppage time.
Before the Premier League was suspended because of the pandemic, Arsenal was on a three-game winning run in the league that had revived its hopes of qualifying for Europe.
However, after losing to Manchester City on Wednesday and now Brighton, it looks a tough task.
Also, on Saturday, first-half goals by Luka Milivojevic and Jordan Ayew put Crystal Palace on the way to a 2-0 victory at Bournemouth in the first Premier League match screened live by the BBC.
Solskjaer encouraged by Pogba in Man United’s draw at Spurs
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba is desperate to make up for lost time after his long injury absence, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said after the France midfielder impressed in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool Manchester City Leicester City Chelsea Manchester United Wolverhampton Sheffield United Tottenham Hotspur Crystal Palace Arsenal Burnley Newcastle United Everton Southampton Brighton & Hove Watford
West Ham United AFC Bournemouth Aston Villa Norwich City 29 29 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 29 30 29 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 27 19 16 15 12 11 11 11 11 9 11 10 10 11 7 6 7 7 7 5 1 3 6 6 10 13 11 9 9 13 6 8 7 4 11 10 6 6 5 6 1 7 8 9 8 6 8 10 10 8 12 12 12 15 12 14 17 17 18 19 66 71 59 54 45 43 30 48 28 41 34 28 37 38 34 28 35 29 35 25 21 82 31 60 29 54 40 51 31 46 34 46 28 44 41 42 32 42 41 40 40 39 41 38 46 37 52 37 41 32 45 28 52 27 49 27 58 26 55 21
Norwich City 0, Southampton 3; Tottenham Hotspur 1, Manchester United 1. Watford 1, Leicester City 1; Brighton & Hove Albion 2, Arsenal 1; West Ham United 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2; AFC Bournemouth 0, Crystal Palace 2. Newcastle United 3, Sheffield United 0; Aston Villa 1, Chelsea 2; Everton vs Liverpool (late).
Manchester City vs Burnley (live on Sport 2 at 10 p.m.)
Pogba, who had not played since December 26 due to an ankle injury, came off the bench in the second half and won a penalty that Bruno Fernandes converted to equalize for United.
The 27-year-old Pogba has been criticized at times for a perceived lack of effort during his United career, but turned in an all-round performance in the Red Devil’s first game back since the season was halted in mid-March.
“It is great to see [Pogba] show his qualities and the contribution he made was big in us getting a penalty,” Solskjaer said. “He has had horrific injury-hit season and he is desperate to make up for lost time.
Pogba completed 17 of 18 passes, made two blocks and recovered the ball four times in 34 minutes on the pitch in what was just his ninth appearance of the season.
“Paul did everything a midfielder should do, he tackled, won passes and showed some skills, so fantastic to have him back,” Solskjaer added. “He trains hard and loves football.”
“It has been great having him back training with us. On and off the pitch, he is such an enthusiastic and passionate boy. Everyone can see the quality he can provide.”